Please join us in welcoming the wonderful Jennifer Kincheloe, whose third book in the award-winning Anna Blanc mystery series, THE BODY IN GRIFFITH PARK, is out now!
Writing as a Team Sport
I recently had lunch Lee Child and a bunch of other extremely talented authors. I’m calling out Lee Child, not because he’s fabulously successful, but because he said this astounding thing. He said something like, “I don’t rewrite. I write one good sentence. Then I write another good sentence. When the book is done, it’s done.”
Lee Child is a genius, and that’s not how I work.
For me, writing is a team sport. I get feedback from my writer’s group and rewrite like crazy.
I found my first writers’ group through Meetup.com. No one in the group had ever finished a novel, though a few members had MFAs or English literature degrees. All of them were readers and they knew what they liked. The most amazing thing about them was that they were willing to read my first feeble attempts at writing fiction and tell me what worked and what didn’t work. (“Jennifer, that love scene is unintentionally hilarious.”) Over the course of a year, we met every other week and they critiqued my entire debut novel, THE SECRET LIFE OF ANNA BLANC. Without them, it would still have that love scene.
Sure, we’ve all heard horror stories about writers’ groups, and some caution is needed. Writers’ groups need ground rules to be successful. They need a strong moderator to keep that one loquacious person from dominating. Criticism must be constructive. Toxic types should be mercilessly dispatched (kicked out, not the other kind of dispatched).
Learning to handle criticism of my work prepared me for working with agents and editors who wanted me to change things. I got practice discerning good advice from bad. It thickened my skin.
How do you know good advice from bad? I’m going to quote Neil Gaiman on this because he said it so well.
“Remember: when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.” ― Neil Gaiman
Writers’ groups may not be for everyone. Lee Child, for instance. But mine helped me grow into a published author.
The third book in the Anna Blanc Mystery series, THE BODY IN GRIFFITH PARK, released July 23rd, fully vetted by my writers’ group.
Dear readers, what kinds of experiences have you had with writer or reader groups? Or what advice would you add?
Jennifer Kincheloe is a research scientist and the acclaimed author of the Anna Blanc mystery series. Her novels take place in 1900s Los Angeles among the police matrons of the LAPD and combine, mystery, history, humor, and romance.
Her novels have been finalists for the Macavity Award, the Lefty Award, the Colorado Author’s League Award, the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, and have won the Mystery and Mayhem Award and the Colorado Gold.
She lives in Denver with her husband, two teenagers, cat, and three dogs, one of whom is a new Saint Bernard-mix puppy.
THE BODY IN GRIFFITH PARK, the third book in the Anna Blanc mystery series, is now available. For more information, please visit jenniferkincheloe.com.
Chicks on the Case 
Loved the first two Anna blank novels. Buying the new one today!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Blanc
LikeLike
Sounds like you have a great group to work with. I have never been part of a local group, but I do have some online writer friends I’ve traded critiques with. Good critique partners are invaluable, especially when you’re just starting out.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve never been part of a writer group, though I did participate in the Guppies’ manuscript swap way back when, which was terrific (though that m.s. is still unfinished).
What’s funny is that I saw your new book cover on Facebook yesterday and immediately thought, “That looks like a fab book!” So glad you could join the Chicks today, and congrats on the new release! Yay!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I noticed it right away, too! Awesome cover.
LikeLike
Wow! I can’t imagine doing rewriting of some kind. Or at least editing. It must be nice to never even make a typo.
However, I also disagree with Neil Gaiman. Sometimes, someone else may have a suggestion on how to fix the problem that works. Of course, it is your work first and foremost, and you need to balance what they suggestion with your intent. I know some people who would rewrite a book in their image, which also isn’t helpful.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Agreed, Mark.
LikeLike
I would never have published anything without my critique group. They are so helpful and pointing out what isn’t working, but also helping me brainstorm to figure out what does!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Congratulations! Great advice. I began writing mysteries in a small group a fellow TV writer started. It’s where we could stretch our writing wings in a safe environment. I wouldn’t have a single book out in the world if it wasn’t for that group.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A critique group has to be a circle of trust to work! So glad you found your tribe, Jennifer — and congrats on the new book!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Welcome, Jennifer, and congrats on the latest release! I don’t have a formal critique group, but I do rely on trusted beta readers to keep me in line. Thank goodness for their insights!
Looking forward to reading THE BODY IN GRIFFITH PARK–and I have to say, I’m curious about that deleted love scene in THE SECRET LIFE. I love accidental hilarity! Best wishes and congrats again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on the new book, Jennifer! Can’t wait to read it. I’ve never had much luck with writers groups, because they always seem to fizzle out. I think it helps if you all write in the same (or a related) genre.
LikeLike
I’ve always been lucky with writing groups, but I don’t have one now. Instead, I have a trusted group of readers who drop everything to read my manuscript for me. I’m usually in a time crunch and pathetic so they take pity on me.
Congrats on your new book, Jennifer. Can’t wait to read this one, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this, Jennifer! And it’s wonderful that you’ve found such a great and effective group. (I say effective because your books are all FABULOUS.)
I’ve been part of quite a few writing groups over the years. Some had working dynamics and others didn’t. Can be hard to find just the right calibration of personalities sometimes. Or even just people with the same schedules!
Currently, I have a fantastic critique partner and a number of beloved betas. Love and am grateful for them all.
Can’t wait to read the new book! Congrats and much success to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person